JP3289290B2 - Automatic pH control device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a pH control device for a chemical tank of a dyeing apparatus or an etching apparatus. Since the pH of the chemical has a significant effect on the characteristics of the device, a highly precise control thereof is often required.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional pH controller, when a pH sensor is immersed in a chemical solution for a long period of time and automatic operation is performed, the characteristic value of the pH sensor changes and accurate pH measurement cannot be performed. Was. Further, in order to perform high-precision control for a long time, it is necessary to frequently calibrate the pH sensor, and it is difficult to automate the pH sensor at present.

An example of the above-mentioned conventional pH control device will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a conventional pH control device. In FIG. 3, 1 is a staining device, 2
Is a dyeing tank, 3 is a dyeing liquid, 4 is a circulation pipe, 5 is a circulation pump, 6 is a device opening, 7 is a pH sensor, 8 is a pH adjusting nozzle, 9 is a glass electrode terminal, and 10 is a reference electrode. Terminal, 11 is a temperature sensor terminal, 12 is a pH adjustment liquid pipe, 13 is a pH adjustment liquid tank, 14 is a pH adjustment liquid, 15
Is a display panel, 16 is a pH detection and controller main body, and 17 is a dispenser.

When controlling the pH of the staining solution,
The dyeing solution 3 in the dyeing tank 2 is constantly circulated by the circulation pump 5 and has a built-in glass electrode, a reference electrode, and a temperature sensor.
The H sensor is immersed in the solution and the pH of the staining solution is measured. A predetermined amount of pH is adjusted by the dispenser 17 in accordance with the measured value.
The adjustment liquid 14 is discharged through the nozzle 8 into the dyeing tank.
At this time, the dyeing solution in the dyeing tank is adjusted to a predetermined temperature.

[0006]

However, in the case of controlling the staining solution with high accuracy (± 0.01 pH) over a long period of time by using the pH controller having the above configuration, it is necessary to calibrate with a pH standard solution several times a day. Becomes
When performing automation including this calibration, it is necessary to accurately and accurately wash and dry the pH sensor at low cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, the present invention provides an automatic pH control device that enables accurate and low-cost washing and drying (draining) of a pH sensor and enables high-precision pH control of a staining solution at a low running cost. Things.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a pH sensor and a controller which adjusts a pH adjusting solution to a predetermined pH value based on a measured pH value and a pH sensor. The pH control device is constituted by a robot hand that moves, a pH calibration liquid tank, a washing tank for the sensor, and porous urethane for draining the tip of the sensor.

[0009]

According to the present invention, before the characteristic value of the pH sensor shifts out of the predetermined control range, the pH sensor is taken out of the staining solution by the robot hand before the pH value of pH 6.
Calibration is performed using the 86 standard solution and the pH 4.01 standard solution. At that time, immediately after taking out the sensor from various liquids, it is necessary to prevent mutual contamination between the liquids.
As a means of washing and drying, the process is carried out by immersing in a washing tank, washing by shaking, and draining and drying water droplets formed at the lower end of the glass electrode (hemisphere) of the pH sensor by contact with porous urethane. Automation, cost reduction, and tact-up.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an automatic pH control device according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an automatic calibration unit of a pH controller according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a pH sensor in a state where it is left standing after cleaning, and FIG. 4 is a pH controller (sensor).
FIG. 5 is a front view of the automatic pH control device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, 20 is a dyeing tank, 21 is a dyeing solution, 23 is an overflow tank, 24 is a robot for moving a pH sensor, 25 is a pH sensor, 26 is a nozzle for injecting a pH adjusting solution, and 27 and 28 are dyeing. Piping for liquid circulation, 29 is pH
Sensor cleaning tank, 29a is pure water, 31 is pure water supply pipe, 32 is pure water drain used for cleaning, 32 is pH
Standard solution tank A (for pH 6.86), 33 is an opening / closing lid for tank A, 34 is a pH standard solution tank B (pH 4.01
, 35 is an opening / closing lid for tank B, 36 is urethane for draining the pH sensor after washing, 37 is a tray, and 38 is a drain. In FIG. 5, 20 to 38 are the same as in FIG. 1, 40 is a pH controller that generates a control signal based on the measured pH value, and 41 is a p-value based on the control signal.
A dispenser for injecting the H adjustment liquid, 42 is a pH adjustment liquid tank, 43 is a pH adjustment liquid, and 44 is a robot controller.

Next, the operation of the automatic pH control device will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 5.

An object to be dyed (for example, a natural polymer) is put into a dyeing tank 20 filled with a dyeing solution 21, immersed for a predetermined time, taken out, and sent to the next step. In this dyeing process, the pH of the dyeing solution is a factor that greatly affects the color characteristics of the material to be dyed, so it is necessary to control the pH with high accuracy and in real time.

Normally, the pH measured by the pH sensor 25
If the value is out of the predetermined control range, the pH controller 4
0, the control signal is generated, and the dispenser 41 is driven based on the control signal.
Is injected to adjust the pH.

At this time, the pH sensor 25 is constantly immersed in the staining solution 21. However, if the immersion is performed for a long time, the characteristic value varies depending on the solution. Therefore, the pH sensor 25 is periodically calibrated with the pH standard solution. The procedure is as follows: after a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of immersion of the pH sensor 25,
The sensor 25 is lifted up from the dyeing tank 20 and the dyeing liquid 21 immersed in the washing tank 29 and washed. Thereafter, when the pH sensor is pulled up and allowed to stand, water droplets are formed at the lower end of the pH sensor 25 as shown in FIG. The pH sensor 25 is moved to remove the water droplet, and the lower end thereof is brought into contact with the porous urethane 36. Next, the lid 33 of the pH standard solution tank A32 is opened, and the robot 25 immerses the pH sensor 25 in the pH standard solution (pH 6.86) held in the tank to perform calibration. After the calibration is completed, the pH is
The pH sensor 25 is pulled up from the standard solution tank A32, immersed in the washing tank 29 and adhered thereto (pH 6.86).
Is washed and brought into contact with the porous urethane 36 to remove water droplets.

Next, the lid 3 of the pH standard solution tank B34
5 is opened, and the robot 25 immerses the pH sensor 25 in a pH standard solution (pH 4.01) held in the tank to perform calibration.

After the calibration is completed, the robot 24 (movable in each direction of a, b, c) moves the pH standard solution tank B32
The sensor 25 is lifted up, and the p
H standard solution (pH 4.01) is washed, and the porous urethane 3
6 to remove water droplets.

Finally, the robot 24 controls the pH sensor 25.
Is immersed in the staining solution 21 to start pH measurement. When the measured pH value exceeds the control range, a command is issued from the controller 40, the burette 41 is operated, and the pH is
The adjustment liquid is discharged and a constant pH value can be maintained. The above steps are also shown in the flowchart of FIG.

The shape of the porous urethane is a rectangular parallelepiped or a column, and by making the height sufficiently high with respect to the bottom area, the dry state of the upper part in contact with the pH sensor can be improved. Porous urethane removes only pure water, so the degree of contamination is low and can be used for a long period of time. However, it is conceivable that the degree of contamination may increase depending on the degree of cleaning. As the material, an appropriate porous material can be selected in addition to the porous urethane.

The automatic pH control device of the present invention does not require a large-scale drying equipment or the like due to the above-described configuration, and enables the pH sensor to be accurately washed with water and dried (drained) at low cost, and low running. Highly accurate pH control of the staining solution can be performed at low cost.

[0021]

As described above, according to the present embodiment, a controller for adjusting a pH adjusting solution to a predetermined pH value based on a pH sensor and a measured pH value and a robot for moving the pH sensor. By constructing an automatic pH controller with a hand, a pH calibration liquid tank, a washing tank for the sensor, and porous urethane for draining the tip of the sensor, low-cost and accurate washing and drying (draining) of the pH sensor become possible. In addition, the pH of the staining solution can be controlled with high accuracy at low running cost, and automation can be facilitated. Also, p
Since the H sensor is periodically cleaned, the service life can be extended, and the running cost can be further reduced.

It should be noted that the present automatic pH control apparatus can be applied not only to a staining solution but also to various solutions (for example, an etching solution, etc.) requiring pH control.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an automatic pH control device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a pH sensor for an automatic pH control device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a conventional pH controller.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an automatic pH calibration according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the automatic pH control device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 20 dyeing tank 21 dyeing solution 24 robot for moving pH sensor 25 pH sensor 26 nozzle for pH adjusting solution 29 washing tank 32 tank for pH standard solution (pH 6.86) 34 tank for pH standard solution (pH 4.01) 36 porous urethane 37 Receiving pan 40 pH controller 41 Buret 42 Tank for pH adjusting liquid 43 pH adjusting liquid 44 Robot controller

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-64-119787 (JP, A) JP-A-61-31959 (JP, A) JP-A-54-103093 (JP, A) JP-A-4-99064 (JP) , U) Fully open sho 59-41756 (JP, U) Really open sho 59-168155 (JP, U) Really open sho 53-32794 (JP, U) Really open sho 52-116985 (JP, U) Real open sho 51-3393 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model Showa 50-991 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model Showa 48-7903 (JP, U) Japanese Patent Publication No. 35-16835 (JP, B1) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ^7, DB name) G01N 27/26 361 G01N 27/38 301 G01N 27/416 G05D 21/00

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A pH sensor based on a pH sensor and a measured pH value.
Automatic pH control with a controller that adjusts the adjustment liquid to a predetermined pH value, a robot hand that moves the pH sensor, a pH calibration liquid tank, a washing tank for the sensor, and porous urethane for draining the sensor tip apparatus. 2. A staining device having the automatic pH control device according to claim 1. 3. A wet etching apparatus having the automatic pH control device according to claim 1.